Samikhsya Bureau
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today lodged a strong complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) for not releasing the disbursement of funds for Kalia scheme launched by the government for the welfare of the farmers and landless labourers of the state.
As the first phase elections to four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly seats came to an end this evening, a visibly upset Naveen Patnaik today went to the CEO to lodge his complaint about stopping the disbursement of funds under Kalia scheme citing model code of conduct.
Later talking to waiting news men at the CEO office, Mr Patnaik said the CEO had not stopped the disbursement of funds under the PM Kissan yojana but stopped the funds for disbursement under state government sponsored Kalia schemes.
The chief minister described the action of the CEO as most unfortunate and said the Kalia scheme is very important as the farmers of the state need funds particularly during the season
Mr Patnaik said he was disappointed when he came to know that the BJP had complained about the Kalia scheme before the CEO adding that the farmers will give them a befitting reply.
The BJD has been alleging that the CEO is under pressure from the BJP , has stopped the release of the second installment of Kalia scheme to the farmers of the state, which the government had announced to disburse on April 1, 2019.
The ruling party alleged that while the CEO had allowed the disbursement of funds to the farmers in the state under the PM Kissan yojana, it had stopped the disbursement of funds under the state government sponsored Kalia scheme.
The BJD had moved the Chief Election Commissioner against the decision of the CEO and urged him to direct the CEO to allow the disbursement of funds under the Kalia scheme.
Soon after the visit of the chief minister to CEO office, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also met the CEO and lodged a complaint on the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Mr Pradhan also lodged a complaint with the CEO about some officers working as a political worker of the ruling BJD in the Chief Minister’s assembly constituency creating a terror and fear among the voters.
On the chief minister’s complaint about the stoppage of disbursement of funds under the Kalia scheme, the Union Minister said the state government is unable to furnish the list of the beneficiaries under the Kalia scheme.
He also alleged that there is no budgetary provision for the scheme and the Chief Minister’s visit to the CEO office is nothing just to create a sense of fear and mislead the voters.
Naveen Patnaik had even announced that if the party voted to power in the state, it will release two installments of Rs.10,000 at a time to the farmers under the scheme on the day the BJD formed the government. (UNI)
